Aircraft planning control system and method

Abstract

An aircraft planning control system and method. According to one embodiment, a flight management computer and remote server system are communicably coupled to a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors recording data associated with an aircraft in operation. The data is used by the remote server system and flight management computer to generate real-time performance data for the aircraft, and to optimize a speed schedule for the aircraft.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to airplane control systems and methods and more specifically to systems and methods for planning and controlling aircraft speed.[0002]Flight planning charts and performance tables supplied by aircraft manufacturers provide only an approximation of actual aircraft performance in flight. The increasing need for fuel conservation has led to more precise methods of cruise control and performance analysis.[0003]These flight planning charts and performance tables are used by a flight management computer (FMC) to predict a particular aircraft's speeds that are applied to that aircraft's climb, cruise, and descent for optimum trajectory. One example of a parameter included in such tables is drag polar, and the drag polar is the relationship between the lift on an aircraft and its drag, expressed in terms of the dependence of the lift coefficient on the drag coefficient.[0004]Using aircraft manufacturer supplied inform...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about methods and systems for planning and controlling the speed of an aircraft. It uses data from sensors on the aircraft to generate real-time performance data and optimize a speed schedule for the aircraft. This helps to reduce the operating cost of the aircraft based on its specific performance, as opposed to relying on approximate performance parameters provided by the manufacturer. Overall, the invention allows for more efficient and cost-effective operation of aircraft.

Problems solved by technology

Using aircraft manufacturer supplied information results in a problematic situation where a drag polar specific to real-time operation of a particular aircraft does not necessarily match the approximate drag polar.

The net effect is that the aircraft is being flown at the wrong speed for absolute max performance in climb, cruise and descent.

Specifically, many airlines use a cost index system (CI, which is a factor that affects speeds by comparing the cost of fuel vs. the cost of fuel and all other aircraft and crew costs), and this results in the aircraft flying at speeds that are not optimal.

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